The Best Hockey Skate Profile
Share
Honestly, picking the right skate profile is super personal; everyone’s got their own feel for what works. I know, you’ve probably heard that answer a hundred times, and trust me, it used to drive me nuts, too. So, as someone who’s coached skating and spent a ton of time messing with different profiles (especially with the Train 2.0 approach), here’s what I’ve learned: I’m a big fan of a profile with a flat spot right in the middle of the blade. Is it the perfect answer? Not exactly, no profile is going to magically turn you into McDavid overnight. You’ll still have to put in the work on your skating mechanics. But if I had to pick one, the flat area profile is the most balanced and just works for all the chaos you see in a real hockey game.
If you’re the kind of player who loves straight-line speed and big, wide turns, a flat area profile is solid, but honestly, a Quad profile might suit you even better. On the flip side, if you live for quick cuts and tight spaces, the flat profile still does the job, but something like the Natural Curve from SSM could give you an extra edge. Profiles like Quad, Natural Curve, Zuperior, and Ellipse each have their own flair and lean toward different types of skating skills. The flat area profile isn’t the flashiest in any one category, but it’s super reliable across the board, which is probably why so many NHLers stick with it. They want a blade that’s consistent, and then they let their own skating mechanics do the talking when it counts.
My own ice profile testing:
| ROH 3/4" for all | 8ft | Natural Curve* | Quad | Flat area (60mm) |
| Mechanic | ||||
| Corkscrew | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Soft Drags | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Anchors | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Punch Turns | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Crossovers | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 10& 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Shuffle | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Forward Stride | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Long outside edge stop | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Natural Curve* is very similar to the Zuperior profile